I'm Ready to Start Living for ME! - Nashville, TN

I have been over weight my entire life. In fact, I cannot think of a point in my life when I was not obese! I am blessed with three beautiful children and a wonderful husband - but my adult life has centered around them: soccer, karate, basketball, fishing trips, etc. and I allowed that to become more important than my own health.
Both of my parents and two of my siblings have heart disease; suffered from heart attacks and were very close to my age when they first showed symptoms. I am cruising right along in their footprints and have no doubt that I will suffer the same fate if I cannot get my health, weight and eating habits under control.
I am 35 years old. My first visit to a new primary care physician was November 19th, 2013, and when I stepped on that scale I cried. I weighed 307 lbs. This is the highest my weight has ever been! I was already aware my mobility had decreased significantly over the past year as my girth expanded - I'm short of breath just walking through the parking lot of a store. Just two and a half years ago I joined the local Weight Watchers program and within 8 months I lost 50lbs. But as soon as I stopped going to the meetings and holding myself accountable to what I was eating the weight came back on with a vengeance - all 50lbs plus ten more.
This isn't the first time I have lost-then-gained back. In fact I have been in a weight fluctuation for 15 years and have tried every 'diet'/shake/program/pill/shots that have been available. I actually checked in to a gastric bypass seminar six years ago but was too scared to go forward with it.
What has not stuck is a consistent healthy eating habit that focuses on me - instead opting for a quick cook meal from a box for my family. I started a low carb - high protein diet that same day I left the doctors office and my weight is currently at 284. I have scheduled my first office visit with Dr. Clemments for next week - 1/14/14 for the sleeve gastrectomy consultation and I look forward to meeting the whole staff.
I have been reading all of the reviews that each and everyone of you have posted since November and you all have given me such confidence and strength to go forward with this decision! Wish me luck and pray that my insurance sees this as positive as I do!!

Tuesday finally arrived. I wasn't nervous like I expected to be. A very nice nurse called me from the waiting area and took me back to an exam room where she took my blood pressure, height, weight, and a little background information. I was then taken to a conference room where eight other women who were also interested weight loss surgery waited. This became a group consultation with the nurse practitioner, nutritionist, psychologist, insurance specialist, and surgeon - giving their speeches one at a time. This took about three hours. Then we were able to meet with the surgeon one-on-one. Dr. Clements suggested that I choose either the bypass or the sleeve surgery (my choice!), that other than being obese I am in good overall health, he applauded my efforts in controlling my diet since mid November and - he thinks I may have sleep apnea. Next I met with the insurance specialist. Here is the road block: I must have a six month doctor supervised diet before insurance will pay for the surgery. I also must participate in a group counseling session (which I think everyone has to participate in), sleep study for the apnea, and an approved psych review.
So it's not what I wanted to hear - a six month wait before I can have the surgery. But, I'm not upset about it. This will give me the opportunity to focus on new eating habits and healthy choices. I also went to my PCP on Tuesday after the surgery consultation - he was very pleased to see that my weight has continued to drop! As of today (1/21) I weigh 279 lbs! That's 28lbs that I've lost on my own in two months! I'm not getting carried away here - I expect the weight loss to plateau and settle around a pound or two per week (depending on my eating and exercise choices), and I'm completely ok with that, too.
I'm already feeling a difference in how my clothes fit me which is such a blessing! My 'fat' clothes were getting tight on me in November, now they fit comfortably. Here's another apple to add to the bushel - my husband has lost around 30lbs on his own!!! I would never ask him to join me in a weight loss plan or meals, but because I am no longer buying his snacky-poo's and sodas when I'm grocery shopping he has no other choice than drinking water and the healthy dinner I make for the family. He was laying on the bed the other evening and showed me that he was able to feel his ribs again.
I have pictures to add later this afternoon!

I am down another 5lbs to 274 as of today. I had my blood work done and received the results that everything is good. My thyroid count is 2.33 - blood pressure is at a very good range. I am having problems scheduling the sleep apnea consultation. Every date that I have available their office is closed or booked - frustrating! However, this is a requirement that must be completed before I can get the OK for the surgery.
I am still on the high protein - low calorie diet. I am averaging 600-800 calories per day and adding light exercise three times a week. Next on my list of things to do is attend a counseling session and psych review.